Recreation

Student Recreation Center

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia

This new center was designed to meet the university’s increasing educational, recreation, and athletic program needs while also motivating students to spend more time on campus. Built on the former site of the old H&PE Building, the new two-story center anchors the new athletic precinct master plan along the west side of campus. Interior design features and amenities include a central “main street” that connects and unifies all of the facility’s major spaces. Running east to west through the facility and highlighted by interspersed sky-lighting, this feature serves as a thoroughfare for students traveling east to west across campus as well as an informal space for socializing. Along with the existing natatorium and locker rooms preserved from the former facility, the new center contains a two-story climbing wall as well as a three-court open gymnasium with an elevated running track. Other amenities include a weight training fitness space with an upper level cardio balcony; a juice bar with lounge; a built-in control station desk; mirrored aerobics/dance studios, a tiered spinning studio; racquetball courts; and a smaller multi-purpose athletic court for floor hockey and indoor soccer.